Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says cancer nurse coordinators are helping to improve the diagnosis and treatment process for over 1,000 patients a month.

“Being diagnosed with cancer or waiting for a diagnosis can be an extremely traumatic time for patients and their families,” says Dr Coleman.

“Cancer nurse coordinators are highly experienced nurses with expertise in navigating the system and helping patients access other support services.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman welcomes new guidelines aimed at offering psychosocial support for communities affected by adverse events.

“The Framework for Psychosocial Support in Emergencies is designed to help those involved in planning, coordinating and delivering psychosocial and mental health support following an emergency,” says Dr Coleman.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman has today announced a $3.76 million support package for Kaikoura and Marlborough.

“The Government is committed to ensuring the people of Kaikoura and Marlborough can access the health services that they need following the recent earthquake,” says Dr Coleman.

“We know that after a serious earthquake, people can feel stressed and anxious for a long time after the event. The psychosocial recovery needs of the communities will change over the coming months and years.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says DHBs will receive an extra $4 million to deliver more colonoscopy services.

“Bowel cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death. A colonoscopy can identify whether a person has cancer or pre-cancerous growths. Early identification and treatment can save lives,” says Dr Coleman.

“This is the latest in a number of funding packages for colonoscopy services since 2013/14, taking the total amount of additional funding to $19 million.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says this year's expansion of the successful Fruit in Schools initiative to a record 547 schools has had a positive impact.

"Children need to eat well in order to optimise their learning and that’s why Fruit in Schools is so beneficial to students," says Dr Coleman.

“Staff at the school also take part to help encourage students to try new things and influence their healthy eating decisions.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman welcomes Pharmac’s major funding package with Roche for nine medicines which will benefit around 2,000 Kiwis. 

“Budget 2016 invests an extra $124 million over four years to enable Pharmac to provide increased access to new medicines,” says Dr Coleman.

Sport and Recreation Minister Jonathan Coleman welcomes the release of a discussion document that focuses on supporting older people to stay active.

“If we want New Zealanders to remain active in their later years we have to ensure we’re offering them the right opportunities,” says Dr Coleman.

“Being physically active has many benefits for older people including enhanced social integration, reduced health and social care costs, prevention of injury such as falls, and also improved productivity.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman has announced the appointed members of 19 DHBs, including seven new board chair appointments.

“DHBs are on the frontline delivering $12.2 billion in important health services to their local communities,” says Dr Coleman.

“Having the right people governing our DHBs is vital to ensuring New Zealanders around the country have access to the health services they need.

“The newly appointed DHB members and chairs have a wide range of skills and breadth of experience, and will make a valuable contribution.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman and Disability Issues Minister Nicky Wagner have congratulated the winners of the Attitude Awards, which recognise the exceptional contributions made by disabled New Zealanders.

“This year the Ministry of Health sponsored the Making a Difference Award, which is given to an individual who has made a significant contribution to improving the lives of disabled people,” says Dr Coleman.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says Southern and Counties Manukau DHBs will be the next DHBs to roll-out the bowel screening programme in 2017/18, after Hutt Valley and Wairarapa DHBs.

“Around 3,000 Kiwis are diagnosed with bowel cancer each year. Screening saves lives by detecting cancers at an early stage,” says Dr Coleman.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says the latest health target results show that DHBs continue to perform well and remain close to achieving a number of targets.

“The health targets drive performance across the health system, ensuring that New Zealanders get better access to key health services,” says Dr Coleman.

“The latest health target results for July to September 2016 are a credit to our hardworking health workforce across the country.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says the health system continues to respond well and is prepared to meet the expected rise in mental health and well-being issues following the recent earthquake in Kaikoura.

“The Government is committed to ensuring the people of Kaikoura and the wider Canterbury and Nelson Marlborough regions can access the health services that they need,” says Dr Coleman.

“I’d like to acknowledge all the health staff who are doing a great job responding to local health needs at a difficult time.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman welcomes new research which shows that the shorter stays in Emergency Departments (ED) target has contributed to a 50 per cent reduction in the number of patient deaths.

“The Government introduced a national target in 2009 to shorten the length of stay by patients in ED to help reduce overcrowding, improve health outcomes for patients, and improve acute hospital services,” says Dr Coleman.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says nearly 250,000 New Zealanders are now using a patient portal to access their health information.

“Patient portals enable patients to manage aspects of their own healthcare such as booking appointments, requesting repeat prescriptions and messaging clinical staff directly,” says Dr Coleman.

“It’s great to see the number of patient portal users significantly increase from around 175,000 in June 2016 to over 241,300 in September 2016 – a 38 per cent increase in just over three months.

Legislation has been introduced to enable DHBs rather than local authorities to decide whether community water supplies are fluoridated, says Health Minister Jonathan Coleman and Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne.

“While New Zealand’s oral health has improved dramatically over the last 30 years, we still have high rates of preventable tooth decay,” says Dr Coleman.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman has announced that Auckland’s three DHBs will have a single chairperson to increase collaboration across the region to further improve the delivery of health services.

“Between them, Auckland, Waitemata and Counties Manukau DHBs care for a population of almost 1.6 million, around a third of New Zealand’s population,” says Dr Coleman.

“The three DHBs have an operating budget of $4.2 billion for 2016/2017. Since 2009 the Government has increased the DHBs funding by around $1.2 billion.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says the number of pill-free Green Prescription referrals have exceeded the target for the first quarter of 2016/17.

“Green Prescriptions provide people with advice and support to improve their nutrition and physical activity,” says Dr Coleman.

“Over 13,700 Green Prescription referrals were made in the first quarter of 2016/17, exceeding the target by nearly 100 referrals.

“It’s great to see that more New Zealanders are getting the extra support they need to get well and stay well.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says there will be a greater focus on reducing rheumatic fever rates in Auckland.

“Rheumatic fever is a serious but preventable disease. Children and young people from Maori and Pacific communities are the most vulnerable,” Dr Coleman says.

“Nationally we’re making good progress towards the Better Public Service target of reducing rheumatic fever rates by two-thirds by June 2017. But there’s still more work to be done, particularly in the greater Auckland region.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says that from next year babies will be tested for Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) at birth.

“SCID is a group of rare diseases caused by genetic defects that prevent normal development of cells essential for immunity,” says Dr Coleman.

“The number of babies born with SCID is difficult to quantify as children often die before diagnosis. Most babies with SCID appear healthy at birth and aren’t diagnosed until six to nine months of age. If untreated, it can be fatal within the first year of life.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman has congratulated this year’s Clinicians Challenge winners for their innovative IT solutions to improve healthcare.

‘It’s great to see clinicians continuing to push the boundaries of digital healthcare through innovative thinking,” says Dr Coleman.

“Winning this year’s Clinicians Challenge is a significant achievement given the quality of entries received.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman welcomes the passing of legislation which enables a wider range of appropriate health practitioners to undertake certain functions currently restricted to medical practitioners.

“This legislation will help to ensure that we can make the best use of the skills of our health workforce,” says Dr Coleman.

“Many health practitioners will now be able to perform tasks that were previously the sole domain of medical practitioners. As a result, more patients will be able to receive more timely convenient care closer to home.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says the national telehealth service has helped around 425,000 New Zealanders since its launch one year ago.

Dr Coleman today visited the Auckland telehealth service which offers health advice and support to New Zealanders via phone, text and online.

“The integration of telehealth services on one platform delivered by one provider means that Kiwis who makes contact - no matter what phoneline or channel they use – receive the appropriate help they need,” says Dr Coleman.